Dogs sometimes freak out about things that they don’t understand. It can be fireworks, thunderstorms, a short ride in the car, or even the neighbor’s lawnmower. On the other hand, they can also be hyperactive, especially when they meet new people.
Calming a dog’s anxiety or convincing a hyper puppy to relax can be easier said than done, so we put together these reviews on the best calming treats for dogs. They contain natural remedies — like chamomile and hemp — to gently relax your dog during stressful or exciting situations.
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The 10 Best Calming Treats for Dogs
1. PetHonesty CalmingHemp Chicken Flavored Soft Chews — Best Overall
Weight:
7 ounces
Life Stage:
Puppy, adult, senior
Calming Ingredients:
Hemp, chamomile, ginger, valerian root
Special Diet:
Non-GMO, no corn, no wheat, no soy
The best overall calming treats for dogs are the PetHonesty CalmingHemp Chicken Flavored Soft Chews. Suitable for dogs of all ages and breeds, these chews use natural, non-GMO ingredients to calm your hyperactive or anxious hound. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, this recipe contains no corn, wheat, or soy to set off allergies.
Instead of chemical sedatives, PetHonesty relies on a careful blend of hemp, chamomile, ginger, and valerian root to ease frayed nerves. The natural chicken flavoring is made from real meat to get your dog’s nose twitching. This option is also sold in three versions; the resealable container is available in 120 count and single or double 90 count.
Although the recommended dosage is based on weight, it may not be strong enough for some dogs. The dosage shouldn’t be exceeded, though.
Pros
Soft chews
Sturdy, resealable container
Suitable for dogs of all ages
Suitable for all breed sizes
No GMOs
No corn, wheat, or soy
Natural ingredients
No sedatives
Calms hyperactivity and anxiety
Cons
The dosage might not be strong enough for some dogs
2. Zesty Paws Hemp Elements Calming Peppermint Flavored Chews — Best Value
Sold in 12- or 25-ounce bags, the Zesty Paws Hemp Elements Calming Peppermint Flavored Chews are the best calming treats for dogs for the money. Affordable and suitable for puppies, adults, and seniors, the chews support your canine’s dental health while freshening their breath with the peppermint flavoring.
This Zesty Paws formula contains hemp seed, chamomile, melatonin, suntheanine, valerian root, and magnesium citrate to help soothe the nerves of anxious dogs or calm down hyperactive puppies. To avoid common allergies, the recipe doesn’t use grain, wheat, corn, or soy products.
Some fussy dogs might dislike the peppermint flavoring and refuse to eat these chews.
Whether your dog is a nervous wreck during car rides, fireworks, or long days alone while you’re at work, the Zesty Paws Core Elements Calming Peanut Butter Flavored Soft Chews use natural remedies to ease their anxiety.
Chamomile, valerian root, hemp seed powder, and l-tryptophan are all included in the grain-free recipe and are suitable for dogs of all ages. The lack of corn, wheat, and soy products also avoids setting off common canine allergies.
Sold in 90-count containers, you can buy singles or packs of two for a longer-lasting supply.
For the best results, these treats need at least 30–60 minutes for their effects to work, which requires a bit of planning ahead or just guessing when it comes to stressful events, especially regarding fireworks.
Pros
Peanut butter flavored
Calms anxiety and hyperactivity
Suitable for all ages
Sold in single 90-count pots or packs of two
Cons
Should be used 30–90 minutes before a stressful event
4. Green Gruff Relax Calming Soft Chew — Best for Puppies
Suitable for all dogs of all ages, including your new puppy, the Green Gruff Relax Calming Soft Chew calms hyperactivity and anxiety while supporting your best friend’s overall health. The formula is filled with natural remedies to promote calmness, ashwagandha, valerian root, chamomile, l-tryptophan, and l-theanine.
Omega oils, amino acids, protein, and antioxidants keep your dog’s muscles, joints, and immune system working as they should, while their skin and coat are kept in top condition. The lack of corn, wheat, and soy products also helps avoid sensitivity issues in some dogs.
Green Gruff uses a smoked coconut flavor for these soft chews; some dogs dislike the taste and refuse to eat it.
NaturVet Quiet Moments Soft Chews are wheat-free and relieve both stress and tension with a veterinarian-formulated blend of thiamine, l-tryptophan, melatonin, ginger, chamomile, and passionflower. The included ginger alleviates indigestion and nausea. In particular, it helps ease the effect of carsickness or discomfort caused by a sensitive stomach.
Each of the four sizes of containers — 70-, 180-, 240-, and 360-count — are resealable to contain freshness and promote proper relaxation. The 70-count option is also available in a pack of two.
These treats shouldn’t be given to cats and may be unsuitable for multi-pet households unless kept out of kitty’s reach. NaturVet Quiet Moments is also unsuitable for puppies less than 12 weeks old.
Pros
Promotes relaxation
Available in four sizes or a pack of two
No wheat
Reduces stress and tension
Eases indigestion and nausea
Formulated by veterinarians
Cons
Unsuitable for dogs less than 12 weeks old
Shouldn’t be given to cats
6. Zesty Paws Lil’ Zesties Calming Soft Chews
Weight:
10 or 20 ounces
Life Stage:
Puppy, adult, senior
Calming Ingredients:
Chamomile, melatonin, passionflower, ashwagandha
Special Diet:
Grain-free, no corn, no wheat, no soy
Flavored to taste like smoked chicken to encourage the appetites of fussy dogs, the Zesty Paws Lil’ Zesties Calming Soft Chews are small, jerky-like treats for dogs of all ages and breeds. Available in 10- or 20-ounce bags to suit multi-dog households, the formula contains chamomile, melatonin, ashwagandha, and passionflower for their calming effects on anxiety and hyperactivity.
Grain-free with no corn, wheat, or soy, Lil’ Zesties are suitable for dogs with sensitivities to these ingredients.
Due to the contents relying on weight, the number of treats that you receive in each bag can vary depending on their size. Some treats might be too small to be effective for large dog breeds.
Pros
Smoked chicken flavor
Soothes anxiety and hyperactivity
Two bag sizes
Suitable for all ages
Suitable for all breed sizes
Cons
The number of treats in a pack can vary
Treats might be too small for large dog breeds
7. NaturVet Senior Wellness Quiet Moments Calming Aid
For doggy owners with senior pets, the NaturVet Senior Wellness Quiet Moments Calming Aid helps relieve anxiety and tension in older canines. The recipe is formulated by veterinarians with senior dogs and their ailments in mind. These chews are chicken flavored and contain chamomile, ginger, passionflower, melatonin, l-tryptophan, and thiamine mononitrate to help your elderly friend relax after a long day or during stressful situations.
NaturVet can be used for all adult dogs, not just seniors, but shouldn’t be given to puppies less than 1 year old. While they’re sold as soft chews, some might be too hard for dogs with missing teeth, especially if the bag is left open for a long time.
With a unique pumpkin and peanut butter flavor, the PetHonesty Hemp Calming Fresh Sticks Dental Chews use natural, non-GMO ingredients with no chemical preservatives. A carefully balanced mix of hemp, chamomile, and melatonin reduces your dog’s hyperactivity and calms their frayed nerves from fireworks, car rides, or separation anxiety. The PetHonesty chews also promote dental health by preventing plaque and tartar build-up on your dog’s teeth.
Despite the design of these chews and their intention to help dental health, there are no ingredients to counteract bad breath. Some dogs also dislike the pumpkin and peanut butter flavoring.
The bags are filled based on weight. Depending on the size of the chews that you receive, you may not get the full count of 30 sticks announced on the packaging.
Designed by veterinarians, the Nutri-Vet Pet-Ease Soft Chews Calming Supplement uses chamomile to reduce stress and anxiety, along with ginger to relieve nausea and indigestion. The hickory-smoked flavor works to encourage your dog’s appetite, especially with fussier canines.
Each of the 70 chews in the packet only contains natural ingredients and no chemical-based sedatives, making this product safe for daily use, provided that you stick to the recommended dosage.
For maximum effectiveness, these treats need to be used at least 20 minutes before a stressful event occurs, which can be difficult to predict. The chews are also too hard for dogs with missing teeth to chew comfortably, and they give off a subtle, medicinal odor that some canines dislike.
Pros
Natural ingredients
Formulated by veterinarians
Reduces stress and anxiety
Hickory smoke flavor
Can be given daily
Cons
Takes 20 minutes to be effective
Smells like medicine
Chews might be too hard for dogs with missing teeth
10. Phelps Wellness Collection Keep Calm & Canine On
Weight:
4 ounces
Life Stage:
Adult
Calming Ingredients:
Chamomile, l-theanine, passionflower
Special Diet:
No corn, no wheat, no soy, pea-free
The Phelps Wellness Collection Keep Calm & Canine On is easy to digest for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Its chamomile, l-theanine, and passionflower contents soothe your dog’s anxiety during fireworks, thunderstorms, car rides, or encounters with the vacuum cleaner. For dogs that are sensitive to corn, wheat, soy, or peas, Phelps is also allergy-friendly and uses antibiotic-free chicken for a healthier snack.
These treats are designed with a break-line through the middle, making the recommended dosage for your dog a little confusing without knowing the right size for each treat. The full-size treats might be too big for small dogs to eat comfortably.
Phelps chews can stain furniture, clothing, and carpet.
There are many different ways that dog owners can try to soothe their best friend’s anxiety. These can range from pressure wraps to CBD oil and even noise-canceling headphones. You can also try calming treats for hyperactive and anxious dogs of all ages. These are non-medicinal supplements that you can add to your dog’s diet.
Like your dog’s usual snacks, calming treats are found in a range of tasty flavors that dogs love, with chicken and peanut butter being two of the most common. These treats also contain several natural ingredients to ease your dog’s nerves. You may recognize them from your favorite herbal remedies:
Chamomile
Hemp
Ginger
L-theanine (suntheanine)
Melatonin
L-tryptophan
Does My Dog Have Anxiety?
Not all dogs suffer from anxiety, but many of our four-legged friends do and not always for the same reasons. Recognizing the signs can help you decide whether your dog needs something to help calm them down or not. The signs of anxiety in dogs are as follows:
Trembling
Tail-tucking or chasing
Hiding
Panting
Pacing
Diarrhea
Urinating
Biting or licking themselves excessively
If you recognize the behavior and there’s an obvious trigger — such as fireworks or a thunderstorm — your dog is probably afraid and would benefit from a few calming treats. Some of these can be symptoms of other health issues, though, so if you’re not sure what the cause is, you should ask your veterinarian for advice.
Image Credit: Kobus-van-Leer, Pixabay
What Causes Anxiety in Dogs?
Dogs react to different things in different ways, depending on how they’ve been brought up and their familiarity with the situation. Fireworks and thunderstorms are two of the biggest triggers for dogs, but there are a few others to consider when you’re deciding if your dog is anxious.
Unfamiliar situations
No early socialization
History of abuse
Separation anxiety
Illness or pain
Aging
What Are Alternative Treatments to Calming Treats?
Calming treats are useful as food supplements, but they can be detrimental to your dog’s health, especially if you’re also trying to get them to lose weight or if you give them too many. You may just be concerned about the ingredients used in the treats themselves, especially if your dog suffers from allergies.
There are several other treatments that you can try that don’t involve prescription anxiety medications or calming dog treats.
Pressure Wraps
Also known as “Thunder Shirts,” pressure wraps are close-fitting shirts for dogs. They’re designed to be snug and soothe your dog’s nerves through pressure points, like receiving a long, warm hug. Remember to teach your dog to associate the coat with good things; if they only see the shirt when something scary is going on, they’ll see it as scary too.
This is the most reliable but also the hardest and most time-consuming option. It involves training your dog to not react to the stimulus, whether it’s fireworks or something else, by slowly getting them used to it. This takes a great deal of time and can’t be done in one sitting.
Take a recording of their trigger or find one online. The idea is that you play it quietly in the background while your dog is doing something that they enjoy, like eating a meal or playing a game. Don’t play it too loud, as you don’t want to inadvertently scare them. Over several days or weeks, steadily increase the volume.
Eventually — and provided that you are successful — your terrified canine will be able to sit through fireworks without flinching (though it’s still safer to keep them inside). It’s the same as socializing your dog while they’re a puppy. The more people, other pets, and situations that they experience, the less anxious they’ll be.
For the best results, start as early as possible. The more time you have to teach them not to be afraid of something, the more effective your attempts will be.
Final Thoughts
Our reviews looked at a wide selection of calming treats, from soft chews to jerky-like morsels and treats to encourage good dental health. Most of them use a blend of hemp and chamomile, along with a few other relaxing remedies to achieve the best results.
The PetHonesty CalmingHemp Soft Chews use valerian root and ginger to help ease nausea and indigestion caused by anxiety. Our budget option, Zesty Paws Hemp Elements Calming Chews, supports your canine’s teeth and gum health by removing tartar and plaque build-ups while keeping your dog relaxed.
Featured Image Credit: torstensimon, pixabay
Nicole is the proud mom of Baby, a Burmese cat and Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts’ knowledge with pet lovers across the globe.
